Mid Atlantic Brewing News October/November 2016 : Page 1

By Alexander D. Mitchell IV aturday, July 30, 2016—a thunderstorm dumped massive amounts of rain in the Baltimore area, up to 6.5 inches in one location northwest of Ellicott City. The result was record flash flooding as the Tiber Creek overflowed its banks and washed out Ellicott City’s historic shopping district. Bar and restaurant patrons fled to upper floors, watching in horror as over 200 cars were washed away, along with sidewalks, building foundations and walls. Two people died in the flooding. The resulting state of emergency lasted well over a month. The entire downtown district was closed off; even business owners were not permitted into their own buildings for fear structural integrity had been compromised. Among the most heavily impacted businesses was the Phoenix Emporium, one of the first bars in Maryland to promote the microbrew renaissance in the 1980s. Unfortunately, the building directly straddles the foot of Tiber Creek across the street from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station Museum. Water and mud completely filled the first floor, forcing Clockwise from above: Bryan Kepner, owner of Wacker Brewing, Mike Spychalski, brewer and James Bollinger, business development manager, pose outside the brewery in Lancaster, Pa. PHOTO BY JIM WEBER. Realtor Tim Miller of Easton, Md. has revived National Premium, an upscale counterpart to Natty Boh. PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM MILLER. The Portner Sisters, Margaret and Catherine, are preparing to follow in their great-great-grandfather’s footsteps with the planned November opening of their brewery in Alexandria, Va. PHOTO BY STEVE MARLER Although there are about a dozen other craft brewers in the Lancaster area, “none of the others have any ties to Lancaster’s past,” says the company’s social media consultant James Bollinger (who also works for LancasterHistory.org). “During the 1860’s Lancaster was known as the Munich of the United States; its beer was sold far and wide.” “You’re bringing back a piece of Americana; you’re staying true to tradition,” offers head brewer Mike Lancaster Spychalski. was also Lancaster back in the day was also known known for cigars; in fact, for cigars; in fact, the word “stogie” comes the word “stogie” comes from the neighboring from town of Conestoga. the neighboring Appropriately, the reincarnation Wacker town of of Conestoga resides in a century-old former tobacco warehouse at 417 W. Grant St. It shares its quarters with the Thistle Finch Distillery; the two businesses operate adjacent taprooms. Kepner was unable to locate any beer recipes from the first Wacker. That doesn’t By Greg Kitsock all them legacy brewers. They’re reviving brands that haven’t been seen for decades, restoring once-proud brewing traditions that were rudely interrupted by Prohibition and the mass consolidation of the mid-twentieth century. They’re hoping that craft beer lovers will appreciate a dose of history along with hops and barley. Wacker Brewing Co. in Lancaster, Pa is one brewery that’s risen from the ashes. Bryan Kepner, local history buff and restaurateur who founded the microbrewery in 2014, had a great-grandfather who worked for the original Wacker brewery, which operated under a variety of names and owners from 1853 until 1956. See Reviving p. 4 On August 24, Howard County authorities still maintained a security checkpoint outside Ellicott Mills Brewing’s two damaged buildings on Main Street in Ellicott City, Md. PHOTO BY ALEXANDER D. MITCHELL IV See Deluge p. 3 INSIDE Strength Matters .......................... 7 Homebrew News .........................10 Event Calendar ............................11 Maps ...................................... 14-17 Jack's Abby Wins GWO ...............23 Book Review................................31 State by State News W. Virginia ........9 Virginia ...........12 C. Penn ............18 Philadelphia ...20 E. Penn ............22 Maryland ........24 Baltimore ........25 D.C. ..................27 New Jersey .....28 Delaware ........30